In O. Henry's story, "The Gift of the Magi," Della bemoans
the fact that she has only one dollar and eighty-seven cents with which to purchase a
Christmas present for her beloved husband. But, she suddenly has the idea that if she
sells her hair, she will have enough money with which to buy the a watch chain for her
Jim. This is her cherished plan, one that she holds dear since it is the only way that
she can procure enough money for the watch fob.
So, she
goes to Madame Sofronie's and sells her hair; takes the twenty dollars and buys Jim a
beautiful watch chain. However, as fate would have it, Jim has sold his watch because
he, too, had not enought money with which to buy his beloved Della the lovely hair combs
he had seen in a shop. Indeed, through the actions of Della and Jim fate "upsets their
cherished plans" of delighting one another with lovely gifts. Yet, of course, they
received greater gifts, the affirmation of one another's unselfish
love.
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